(WWJ) Sentencing has been delayed, once again, for a man in a high-profile homicide case in Macomb County.
Hatum Akrawi, 34, of Fraser, last month pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter in the Dec. 22, 2019, death of 47-year-old Shawn Kubic, of St. Clair Shores.
According to police, Kubic and Akrawi has been arguing at Kapones Sports Tavern, on Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores, before Akrawi sucker punched the other man in the head. Kubic fell to the floor unconscious and bleeding, and died in the hospital the next day.
Given the COVID-19 positivity rate is down and regulations have relaxed somewhat, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Michael Servitto ordered that Akrawi be present when his sentence is handed down, rather than appearing via video.
"The court does believe it's appropriate that Mr. Akrawi be present for sentencing with council," the judge said during a brief hearing last week. "The prosecution does not have to be here, but I ask that they be here as well. The family members of the victim in this matter, of course, can be here as well."
During a hearing the morning of Friday, Feb 19 — when sentencing was supposed to take place — the judge again delayed one week so that Akrawi as well as Kubic's family could appear in-person.
Akrawi's new sentencing date is now Friday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m.
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Originally charged with murder, Akrawi made a deal with prosecutors and now faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge.
Kubic's mother, Kathy Zelmanski, is upset with the manslaughter plea. She said there was no fight between Akrawi and her son, and what the defendant did amounts to murder.
The punch was captured on surveillance video.
"You can see in the video how Hatum is getting ready to get ready for the opportune time to hit him as hard, and with as much malice as he could muster," Zelmanski said. "And that's very clear in the video."